BOISE, Idaho ÔÇô Last Friday night's $250,000 winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at what is quickly becoming one of the luckiest Jacksons Food Stores in the Treasure Valley. William Lauder of Meridian claimed the winning ticket Monday, a ticket he purchased Friday night at the Jacksons Food Store located at 522 W. Cherry Lane in Meridian just before Friday night's draw.

"Jacksons is well known for selling a lot of big winning tickets," said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. "But this particular store has sold two big winners in the past month."

On January 18, 2011, Larry Hawkins of Meridian claimed a winning Powerball ticket from the exact same Jacksons store on Cherry Lane in Meridian worth $40,000. And just last year, the same Jacksons store sold a $25,000 Beach Blanket Slingo Scratch GameTM ticket. The store has many regular players and in the last year paid out over $250,000 in prizes plus eight prizes worth $500 or more.

"We value the working relationship we have with the Idaho Lottery and the unique business opportunities it provides for us," said Richard Levin, Jacksons Vice-President for Marketing. "We pride ourselves in selling more lottery products than any other retail chain and having more big winners."

For their part in selling the big winning ticket, Jacksons will receive a $20,000 bonus from the Idaho Lottery.

The Mega Millions jackpot for Tuesday night's draw is an estimated $40 million.

# # #